Although the evidence is circumstantial, I believe Rachel's parents were Robert and Rebecca
Henderson Adkinson. There were a number of Adkinsons (sometimes spelled
Adkison) who migrated from
Fountain County in the mid 1800s, some settling in Peru,
Miami County,
Indiana and others in
Iowa. Rachel
Adkinson Ludlow and her husband Benjamin settled in
Muscatine County,
Iowa where their children were born, then in Madison Co. where they were joined by Andrew Jackson
Adkinson, a man I believe was Rachel's younger brother. Yet another brother, Lewis D. Adkinson, settled in Peru,
Indiana and this biographical sketch appears in the 1887 History of Miami County:
"HON. LEWIS D. ADKISON, a prominent citizen and pioneer of Peru, is a native of Fayette County,
Indiana, born about eight miles west of Connersville, May 26th, 1816. His parents, Robert and Rebecca (
Henderson)
Adkison, were born in North and
South Carolina respectively, of
Irish lineage. The father in 1829 moved to
Fountain County, where his death occurred one year later. The mother was born in the year 1776, and departed this life on the 27th of August, 1846. Lewis D. Adkison, when thirteen years of age, accompanied his parents to
Fountain County, where for two years he worked on his father’s farm. His early educational advantages were limited, being only those derived from attendance at the indifferent county schools for that period about three months each year, until he arrived at the age of eighteen. He left home in the spring of 1835, and went to Logansport, where he worked at brick making until the following Fall, at which time he came to Peru and secured employment on the Wabash and Erie
Canal, then in progress of construction. After one year spent as workman on the canal Mr. Adkison accepted a clerkship in the mercantile house of D.R. Bearss, and later was engaged in the same capacity by Mr. Bearss’ successor, Jacob Lindsey, acting as clerk in all about three years. In 1838, he was appointed by Governor Wallace
Sheriff of
Miami County to fill the unexpired term of Asa Leonard, who died in office, and at the ensuing elected in 1840 was chosen
Sheriff, the duties of which position he discharged for about four years. On leaving the office he engaged in the plaster’s and brick laying trades and after continuing the same for some four years, opened a general store in Peru, which he conducted with good success for sometime. He subsequently abandoned that line of trade and for some years was engaged in the lumber business, which he carried on quite extensively in connection with a general store in Peru, which he conducted with good success for sometime. He subsequently abandoned that line of trade and for some years was engaged in the lumber business, which he carried on quite extensively in connection with a general hardware trade. In 1855 he disposed of his mercantile interests in Peru and emigrating to
California opened a general store at Oak Valley, in the mines. He was subsequently elected Supervisor of
Yuba County, that State, an office similar to that of County Commissioner in
Indiana, and after serving one and a half years was chosen
Sheriff, the duties of which office he discharged for about four years. In 1868 he returned to
Indiana and settled in
Fulton County, where, until 1874, he was engaged in agricultural pursuits, disposing of his farm at the end of that time and returning to Peru. In 1874-5 he was Assistant Doorkeeper of the
Indiana State Senate, and in 1882 was elected State
Senator from the counties of Miami and Howard. He took an active part in the deliberations of that body and served on some of the most important committees, among which were these: Banks and Banking, Public
Printing, Public Buildings, Swamp Lands, Fees and Salaries, etc. Since the expiration of his term as legislator, Mr. Adkison has been engaged in the insurance business and loaning money at Peru. On December 16th, 1840, he married Mrs. Lucy Davis, daughter of the late Judge Albert
Cole, of Peru, by whom he had four children, only one of whom, Lucy A., wife of James H. Fetter, is living. Mrs. Adkison was born in the year 1820, and died March 11th, 1885. Mr. Adkison was originally a Whig, but since the organization of the Republican party, he has been an ardent supporter of its principles. He is a member of the Presbyterian church and belongs to the
Odd Fellows fraternity."
The connection between Lewis and the Adkinsons of Madison County,
Iowa is established by an obituary for A. J. Adkinson -
http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/INWARRIC/2001-12/100804.... I hope this information is of some interest to you. If you're interested, I have a little more on the family that I'd be happy to share.
Jim